Archive

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Tuesday, March 30, 2010) – South Africans Rosanne Hodge and Nikita Robb advanced to Round 3 of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro presented by Ford Fiesta in punchy two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves breaking through the “Rincon” section of the point at Bells Beach in Australia.

The second stop on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach plays a vital role in surfers setting their respective seasons up as they track down requalification points and the all-important ASP Women’s World Title.

Hodge and Robb, both from East London, took the long route to stay in contention, having to qualify via cutthroat Round 2 heats after placing third in their opening encounters.

Despite posting the highest single wave score, 6.50 out of 10, in her Round 1clash, Hodge was relegated to Round 2 when, needing 5.07, she could only manage a backup wave of 4.70. However, Hodge cruised to victory in her Round 2 heat and now faces the on-form Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26, former ASP Women’s World Champion (2005), who lit up the lumpy afternoon right-handers with precision and speed on her backhand, collecting the day’s high heat total of a 17.20 out of a possible 20.

Robb, in her rookie year, will be elated to avoid the dreaded 17th place for the second event in a row. But the 21 year-old will be wondering how to approach her next heat against defending event champion Silvana Lima (BRA), 25, after recorded her fourth successive heat total of less than 10 points in Round 2.

SA’s Jordy Smith, the current ASP No. 2 after his runner-up finish in the opening event on the 2010 ASP World Tour on the Gold Coast, is seeded No. 11 for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers. Smith meets 2009 ASP WQS champion Patrick Gudauskas (USA) and Australian Jay Thompson in Round 1.

Travis Logie will be determined to kickstart his challenge to make the cut when the Top 45 are reduced to the Top 32 following the fifth event of 2010 with a good result at Bells. The Durbanite, who requalified for the ASP World Tour after a one year absence during 2009, placed equal 33rd on the Gold Coast and faces a tough opening encounter against 2001 World Champion CJ Hobgood (USA) and Tiago Pires (PRT) when the men’s event commences.

About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA – (March 23, 2010) – The annual event period for the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy coincided with the end of the Northern Hemisphere winter last Saturday – but a last-minute off-season swell slamming Tahiti has turned the competition upside down with a fresh influx of stunning big wave images. The largest waves seen there in three years (and some of the heaviest tubes ever photographed) heaved across the legendary reef at Teahupoo on March 17, scraping in under today’s final deadline for entering images into the XXL event.

For the first time in the ten-year history of the Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards, a swell with the power to rearrange the potential nominees has come in the final week of the year-long competition. A unique event in surfing, the XXL honours the greatest achievements in big wave riding anywhere in the world at any time — based on the photographic evidence. Generally, the short list of Billabong XXL Awards nominees has firmed up by late March, a time when the North Pacific and Atlantic are settled down for the season and the South Seas have yet to come to life. But in a year of high surf superlatives, it should not have come as a surprise that an off-season game-changer would suddenly appear.

“It’s really, really rare to get a big swell this early in March,” said Sean Collins of Surfline.com, the official surf forecaster of the XXL. “It could be El Nino-related as there’s already been lots of tropical activity in the South Pacific, all of which serves to supercharge these storms – like what we’ve seen in a few of our North Pacific swells this winter.”

Standouts at the all-star Teahupoo session included Tahitian locals Manoa Drollet and Raimana Van Bastolaer along with Hawaiians Shane Dorian and Ian Walsh. The newest Ride of the Year entries can be viewed at the event website at http://www.billabongxxl.com/roty/index.html where they join video clips of epic moments of the last year at spots like Tasmania’s Shipstern Bluff, Maverick’s in California and Waimea Bay and Jaws in Hawaii.

Nominations will be announced in all the key event divisions starting next week, with the gala Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards ceremony taking place April 23 at the Grove Theatre in Anaheim, California. Featured categories include the Ride of the Year, XXL Biggest Wave, Monster Paddle-In, Monster Tube, Surfline Best Performance, Billabong Girls Performance and the Verizon Wipeout Award. The event features over $130,000 in prize money and will be televised on the ESPN Networks starting May 18, 2010.

The Tenth Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards are presented by Monster Energy. Surfline is the official surf forecaster, Verizon Wireless is the official communications provider and Honda Aquatrax the official watercraft. The event is sponsored by Surfing Magazine and Air Tahiti Nui.

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Tuesday, March 23, 2010) – The world’s best female surfers are gearing up for the second stop on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta, running at the historic site of Bells Beach from March 30 through April 5, 2010.

Hot on the heels of a blistering start to the season, the ASP Top 17 are making their way to the iconic pointbreaks of Victoria as they hunt down rankings’ points, prestige and the all-important ASP Women’s World Title.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning three-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1, kicked off 2010 in fine fashion with a win at the season opener on the Gold Coast, but remains cautious when discussing the possibility of a fourth ASP Women’s World Title so early in the year.

“That (a fourth ASP Women’s World Title) is way too far off to even mention,” Gilmore said. “My start was a little surprise for me, but has set me up well for the Australian leg of the tour so let’s just wait and see how things turn out at the upcoming event.”

Despite the humility, Gilmore’s track record at the venue does nothing but instill confidence in her supporters, winning the event in 2007 and 2008 as well as finishing Runner-Up in 2009.

“Bells is quite a deceiving wave because it looks perfect and easy to surf but you find yourself challenged with constantly reading the wave and trying to miss the fatter sections and keeping flow and momentum until the inside section as well as not burning up too much energy in the cold water.” Gilmore said. “So there’s a lot more thinking rather than instinct, but I seem to do well at Bells and prefer the slower more polished style of surfing that shines through when you’re on a wave.”

Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, current ASP Women’s World No. 2, had a solid start to 2010, finishing Runner-Up on the Gold Coast and will look to draw on her years of experience when it comes to the wave at Bells Beach.

“If we are surfing the Bowl then the wave reminds me of my home break, ‘Makaha’ so it’d be like surfing at home and the wave would suit me very well,” Bartels said. “Now if the waves are smaller and the comp is held at ‘Rincon’ then that’s a totally different wave that would remind me of a break I used to train at when I was a kid called, ‘Barber’s Point’. So either way, I’ll be ready.”

Surfing with renewed vigor and confidence, Bartels has established herself as a real threat to the ASP Women’s World Title.

“This event is by far one of the most prestigious events on tour and in the world so it’d be an honor if I am the one who rings that bell in 2010 baby,” Bartels said. “In the Men’s event, the ones to watch will obviously be Fanning, Parko, Taj, Kelly, Jordy, Dane and A.I. As for the Women’s, the one to watch would have to be ‘The New Melanie Bartels’!”

South Africa’s two representatives on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour, Rosanne Hodge and Nikita Robb, both from East London, will be determined to improve on their results in the opening event at Snapper Rocks where they finished equal 9th and equal 17th respectively.

Gilmore, Bartels and the remainder of the ASP Top 17 will battle it out in the iconic righthanders of Victoria from March 30 through April 5, 2010.

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

A once in a lifetime gathering of 1960’s surfers and other beachgoers who frequented the iconic Surfer’s Corner at Muizenberg Beach will celebrate their memories in Cape Town this weekend, starting with a party at the Pavilion on Friday night and continuing with barbeques on Saturday and a get together on the beach at the Corner on Sunday.

More than 520 guests, many of whom have travelled from overseas or elsewhere in the country specifically for the event, will be packed into the Friday night shindig that will feature live music from the era, a tribute to the late John Whitmore, the Doyen of Cape Town and South African surfing, a huge raffle with sponsored prizes totaling tens of thousands of Rands, a giant custom-made backdrop of the Corner bathing boxes for group photographs, aptly named dishes on the food menu and a wide choice of discounted refreshments..

Patrons will also be treated to a video presentation of original footage and interviews with storytellers from ‘back in the day’ along with a slide show of archive images compiled by Carlos Feyder. Footage recorded at the event will be added to the compilation which then will be available for general distribution. Images from the function can also be downloaded from www.surfpix.co.za after the event.

Initiated and coordinated by veteran surfing administrators Nick Hough and Charlie Moir, the project was intended to get around 100 of their old surfing buddies together but has resulted in undeniably the biggest ever gathering of Cape Town’s surfing pioneers and arguably the largest assembly of 1960’s surfers anywhere. Hough, Moir and the rest of the organising committee are hopefully that the occasion will leave a lasting legacy for Cape Town surfing with plans for a Surfing Museum and a Surfing Walk of Fame at the corner being hatched.

The gathering will also commemorate a centenary of surfing at Muizenberg as according to the recently published book “Muizenberg – a forgotten story” by Mike Walker, the official history of the coastal town, people started surfing there in 1910 and there is photographic evidence of stand up surfers riding waves during WW1.

There will be reunions within the overall reunion as members of the surf clubs of the day such as Muizenberg Corner, Atlantic, Point and their elite offshoots Surf Club Da Cat and Surf Club Swamis get together with their old-time friends. The project culminates in a gathering of everyone on location at the Corner on Sunday at 10am when a dozen or so original 1960’s surfboards will be available for the attendees to test their skills on in the gentle rollers.

Further information on the event can be found at the Facebook group ‘Surfers Corner Sixties Reunion’ where hundreds of archive images are displayed alongside discussion threads and messages from former Surfers Corner beachgoers.

Billabong has announced the airing of a brand new 6-part reality television show, captured and directed by Silver Bullet Productions over the recent nineteen day Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer tour.

The show has gained exponential momentum over the last two weeks, be sure not to miss episode three tonight on VUZU, channel 123 on DSTV, at 7pm!

It all started on Sunday, the 6th of December, five new Billabong Ambassadors arrived in Jeffreys Bay for a trip that was going to change their lives. Nicky Van Den Aardweg (19) from Durban, Christi Vosloo (16), Amy Jane Smorenburg (17) and Chanel Hurlin (18) from Cape Town and Tanya Van Aswegan (19) from Pretoria joined up with the three Billabong Girl team surfers TarrynChudleigh (20) from Kommetjie, Morag Steele (18) from Somerset West and Adele Nortje (19) from Mossel Bay and embarked on a three week roadtrip. For the next nineteen days, the pink Billabong bus became their home as they traveled the South African coastline from Jeffreys Bay up to Durban and then all the way back along the coast to Cape Town.

For the entire journey, the eight Billabong Girls had cameras in their faces from when they woke up to when they went to sleep at night, capturing all the magic of their trip. The highs, lows, fun, excitement and girly fights were all caught on camera and are all ingredients for a show that is going to undoubtedly capture the imaginations of young girls around South Africa.

Episode 3 begins with a second attempt to liberate the flamingos, this time the pair are rescued and join the pink bus tour as it makes it way along the coast towards Umhlanga. The girls are able to explore their naughty nature while on tour, whether it’s chalking messages on sidewalks, playing pranks or just instigating mischief. Adele seems particularly apt at stirring up mischief.

Tarryn has made the Under 20 and the Open Women’s Finals in her competition and Chanel and Morag sneak off to support her. Each competition is a step towards Tarryn’s dreams and her disappointing result upsets her. She’s glad to have Morag and Chanel there for support.

The bus moves on towards Margate, pausing for a hilltop sunset. The group vibe is definitely easier now, with Tarryn perking up and attempting a sunset bush dive, unfortunately missing the bush, and Tanya taking her first bush pee, which she’s delighted with.

Day 9 finds the girls in Margate on a rainy morning, discovering a magnificent secluded waterfall, its thunderous presence instilling calm reflection and putting life into tranquil perspective. Back in Margate it’s not an ideal beach day, though the girls are still keen to make the most of the chance to surf, while Chanel and Adele sneak off to Pleasure Centre to ride the carousels and super tubes.

The girls and 2 flamingos move on towards the Transkei, pulling up alongside a pine forest. Determined to live every moment the girls charge into the misty forest, climbing trees and hiding in the eerie calm of the quiet forest before screaming at the top of their lungs. Their energy not exhausted Adele and Tarryn then decide to charge a herd of cows.

Nicola Reid-Ross, Billabong Girls SA Marketing Manager, was thrilled at the prospect of showcasing the Girls Get Out There Tour through a six-part television show. “This is a first for Billabong Girls in South Africa and is something that we are incredibly excited about. It is an opportunity for us to share our brand with our target market in an unforced way which resonates with their everyday lives.” said Nicola. “It is the perfect way for us to express the Billabong Girls lifestyle and show off our beautiful Winter product range.

Michael Raimondo, Director of the show, elaborated further stating, “the essence of surfing ebbs and flows throughout the trip, as the sport and lifestyle that inspired a brand is introduced to the ambassadors and their love and respect of the ocean and Mother Nature moves them in different ways; sunrise and sunsets, beach activations, a Winter ’10 shoot, hidden waterfalls, bush diving, screaming in forests, chalk messages, friendships and differences all weaved into a personable expression of what it’s like to explore yourself and set your spirit free.”

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Thursday, March 18, 2010) – The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers is preparing for the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history to descend upon the tiny Victorian hamlet of Torquay, as the world’s best surfers look to lay waste to the pristine right-handers of the region.

Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is the highly-anticipated follows up to an exciting season opener, and with 15 ASP World Titles represented amongst the ASP Top 45, this year’s event promises to be a showdown for the ages, running from March 30 through April 10, 2010.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, reigning two-time ASP World Champion, is the running favourite this season following a sensational assault on the back half of 2009. However, after an uncharacteristic equal 9th place finish at the opening event of the season on the Gold Coast, the Australian natural-footer will look to rebound at the upcoming Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

“It was a disappointing start because I expect a lot of myself on the Gold Coast,” Fanning said. “I was happy with the way I was surfing. I just had a heat where I failed to lock in a solid second score. I felt really strong going into the first event but sometimes that’s not enough. Every year, the standard of surfing on tour gets better. I got beaten by Kai Otton, one of the most solid competitors there is, so there’s no shame in that. Now I’ve got to now focus at getting back on track at Bells.”

A former event winner at Bells Beach (as a wildcard in 2001), and now a two-time ASP World Champion, Fanning understands that expectations upon him are different in 2010, but with over a decade of competitive experience at the venue under his belt, the 28-year-old will be looking to consolidate amidst familiar surroundings.

“There’s definitely more pressure mainly because of the media focus and expectations people have but I’ve been in this position before and I feel like I’m now better equipped mentally to deal with those pressures now,” Fanning said. “I’ve been going to Bells and competing there since I was 16-years old. I’m really comfortable with the wave and I feel my surfing suits the spot. Hopefully we get some solid clean swells.”

Before Fanning can lay claim to this season’s Rip Curl “Bell”, he’ll have to contend with the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in the history of the sport.

“There are a number of guys on tour that have a style that really suits Bells,” Fanning said. “None more so than former winners Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson. If I had to throw another name out it would be Jordy Smith – he’s lethal on a right-hand point-break and coming off a second place finish in the first event, I got a feeling he’ll be one to watch.”

Smith recorded his best result of 2009 at Bells Beach, finishing equal third when bowing out to eventual winner Joel Parkinson (AUS) in the semifinals. After his career best result second place finish in the opening event of the 2010 ASP World Tour on the Gold Coast earlier this month, the 22 year-old from Durban will be looking for another solid result over Easter to consolidate his challenge the 2010 ASP World Title.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, current ASP World No. 1 and former winner at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (2007), has been in unstoppable form since December, claiming three victories in three attempts at Pipeline, Burleigh Heads and Snapper Rocks.

“I haven’t actually changed my approach that much at all,” Burrow said. “The training I’ve been doing hasn’t changed one bit. I’m just feeling really confident at the moment and not putting too much pressure on myself. I always do my best when I’m actually excited to surf a heat, so I’ve just been trying to replicate how I feel when I go free surfing.”

Burrow’s newfound consistency has several pundits alluring to the possibility of a maiden ASP World Title clinching, but the progressive icon is cautious when considering 2010’s outcome.

“It’s too early in the year for pressure,” Burrow said. “The first few events are always about getting into competing again and finding some momentum. I’m not feeling any pressure at all. Bells is a hard wave to surf at times – it changes a lot with the tide. You could be surfing six foot bowl or three foot Rincon on the same day. I’ve always really liked surfing Bells – it is a wave with a lot of open face to play around with and the atmosphere with the crowd is unbelievable. Ringing the Bell in 2007 was something I had always wanted to do.”

Andy Irons (HAW), 31, former three-time ASP World Champion, has returned to full-time competition following a sabbatical in 2009. Finishing Equal 17th on the Gold Coast, the ferocious Hawaiian has gotten a taste for the new blood on tour and is prepared to do battle at Bells Beach.

“The surfing has really progressed,” Irons said. “The new generation of kids on tour surf amazing. I’m stoked to be back in with the mix that’s for sure.”

A former back-to-back winner at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (2002, 2003), Irons re-defined progressive surfing at the famed break earlier in the decade, and will look to invoke a return to form in 2010.

“I’m working on getting my boards dialed,” Irons said. “I ordered a couple of Simon Andersons and his boards have done well with me at Bells in the previous years. I have won at Johanna and at Bells Bowl before – they are both really fun powerful waves. The bowl at low tide is super rippable. Hopefully we have good swell. I’m really looking forward to surfing the event.”

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. By Snickers will be webcast LIVE via www.live.ripcurl.com

The Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta, featuring the ASP Top 17, will run in conjunction with the Rip Curl Pro from March 30 through April 5, 2010.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Three South African surfers have advanced to the business end of the Burton Toyota Surfest in Newcastle, Australia, touted as the world’s biggest surfing event with more than 750 competitors.

Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) posted an impressive display to move into the semifinals of the Newcastle Women’s Open, a 1-Star rated ASP Women’s World Qualifying Series event, along with Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) while Brandon Jackson (Durban North) progressed to the last 16 in the Burton Toyota Pro, a 4-Star Men’s WQS event that was won by fellow Durbanite Travis Logie last year.

Chudleigh, 19, in her first WQS event of the year, conquered the messy one metre plus waves and onshore winds to rack up both the highest single ride score, 7.83 out of 10, and heat total, 13.33 out of 20, in the women’s event.

Rautenbach advanced in second place in the same heat while Faye Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth) was eliminated in the previous round.

Jackson, also in his first WQS event of 2010 and the No. 12 seed, started his campaign in the Round of 32 of the Burton Toyota Pro with a comprehensive 13.0 to 10.54 man-on-man victory over New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand. Jackson will face Michael Spencer (AUS) in the Round of 16 when competition resumes.

Former Capetonian Damien Fahrenfort, who finished 17th in the previous WQS event in Australia in February and the No. 10 seed here, is up against another Australian in Darren O’Rafferty in Heat 12 of the Round of 32.

Earlier Chad du Toit’s outstanding run in the event came to an end in the Round of 48. The 19 year-old from the Berea in Durban has been the form surfer amongst the SA contingent in Australia, placing 3rd and 9th in highly competitive Pro Junior (U20) events last month and advancing through four rounds at Newcastle before being ousted in equal 33rd place with prize-money winnings of US $850.

The Newcastle Women’s Pro crowns the champion on Saturday and the Burton Toyota Pro ends on Sunday. All the action is webcast LIVE at http://www.aspaustralasia.com/live/2010/surfest/index.php starting at 11.30pm each evening.

++++++++++++++

Jordy Smith set to fly at Boost Mobile Surf Show this weekend

Jordy Smith put on a solid performance in the warm-up session for the Boost Mobile Surf Show at Bondi Beach in Sydney Australia earlier today (Friday). The 22 year-old Durbanite and current ASP No. 2 will surf all weekend in what is the first ASP event at this iconic surf beach in 22 years.

Smith will be up against the likes of reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), nine-time world champ Kelly Slater (USA), current ASP No. 1 Taj Burrow (AUS) and exciting talents such as Australians Owen Wright and Josh Kerr with a US $32 500 prize pool at stake.

Crowds of more than 20 000 are expected with the world’s best surfers set to put on an awesome display of futuristic surfing.

About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Friday 5 March, 2010) – South Africa’s Jordy Smith finished runner-up to Taj Burrow (AUS) in the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover at Snapper Rocks in Australia today, posting the best result of his blossoming career as a professional surfer and starting his third year on the ASP World Tour ranked No. 2 in the world.

Smith, who went on a giant-killing spree at the event, eliminating former nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 38, and ASP No. 3 Bede Durbidge (AUS) yesterday before comprehensively defeating fellow new-school ripper and nemesis Dane Reynolds (USA) for the first time in today’s semifinal to reach his first final.

“It’s my first Final so I’m pretty stoked,” Smith said. “It’s unfortunate that the waves went kind of dead in our heat there, but we tried our best. It’s been a great event though and I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Long touted as a potential ASP World Champion, Smith has steadily improved his ranking, finishing his rookie year No. 25 before ending 2009 rated No. 11, and on the evidence of this event’s performance the powerful natural-footer is certainly an ASP World Title contender in 2010.

“I just feel a lot more comfortable with myself this season,” Smith said. “I’m having a lot more fun with my surfing and everything seems to be coming together for me. I’m amped with a Runner-Up finish here and hope I can keep the momentum up for the rest of the season.”

Burrow, who has secured victories in the previous two events he entered (Pipeline in December and Burleigh Heads in February), has been in sensational form over the past three months and used all of his experience to overcome Smith in the deteriorating one metre waves, despite the South African leading for the first half of the 40 minute final.

“I didn’t feel like I surfed my best in the Final,” Burrow said. “I kind of just did what it took to win. I just waited for the best waves, did a couple nice turns – nothing too wild. I’d rather have taken Jordy’s approach – catch lots of waves and just let loose. That’s kind of my strategy normally. Being a bit more patient and selective than usual definitely paid off. But I knew Jordy could unleash and get the big score any moment.”

The 31 year-old from Western Australia burst onto the world stage in 1997 when he qualified for the ASP World Tour but famously turned the opportunity down as he was too young. He made his debut in 1998 and went on to finish runner-up for the title the next year, a ranking he repeated in 2007. With a total of seven Top 5 finishes in his 12 years on the tour, Burrow will look to continue the momentum in 2010 as he hunts down his first ASP World Title.

“What can I say? I don’t know,” Burrow said. “I surprised myself really. Obviously, Pipe was the biggest event I could ever win. I was just overwhelmed. I felt like retiring after that event. I just couldn’t believe it, and didn’t think it could get any better. I guess I’ve taken the confidence from it and worked on some good boards. Burleigh Heads was a good warm-up. I felt good that there as well – there are fun little rights, and then here, I took a while to get rolling, but I just built up momentum. I felt great out there and here I am on the podium again – it just feels unbelievable.”

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast was the first event in ASP history where all four semifinalists had failed to win their opening heats in the traditional World Tour format. Only 22% of all events using three-man heats in Round 1 have been won by a surfer having to contest Round 2.

Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, looked the form surfer of the event yesterday, defeating defending event winner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, with an impressive 19.20 out of a possible 20. However, the young Californian was unable to find a rhythm in today’s challenging conditions, bowing out of the event with an Equal 3rd at the hands of Smith.

“I felt pretty good yesterday and it felt like my equipment was finally working,” Reynolds said. “Even though the conditions weren’t as good today, I thought I could catch an average wave and surf it well enough to get a good score, but that didn’t happen. When the other guy gets a good roll going, it’s hard to come back – or it is for me anyway.”

Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, matched his best result on the Gold Coast today, collecting an Equal 3rd (his first came in 2006), but the sole goofy-footer in today’s event was clearly upset about the deteriorated conditions.

“It’s disappointing to finish when it’s windy like this,” Martinez said. “We all want to surf when it’s glassy, and I’m disappointed that we have to finish today. I did my best to mix it up out there, but it’s very challenging out there on your backhand today.”

Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover can be found via www.quiksilverpro.com.au

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Thursday 4 March, 2010) – Jordy Smith completed one of the best days of his burgeoning career by ousting former nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and current World No. 3 Bede Durbidge (AUS), two of the biggest names in competitive surfing, from the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover and move into the semifinals at the first stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour.

There were upsets galore as the remaining 16 surfers in Round 4 of the event strutted their stuff in the outstanding 1 – 1.5 metre waves peeling down the point at Snapper Rocks, Queensland, with Smith and fellow new-school progressive ripper Dane Reynolds (USA) leading what appears to be a changing of the guard as they charged past the established campaigners and into what will be a fiercely contested semifinal encounter.

Smith led throughout against Slater, utilising his repertoire of radical fins-free manoeuvres, seemingly effortless floaters and deep tube rides to rack up 16.10 points out of 20, leaving the former two-time event champion needing a near perfect 9.10 points out of 10 when the heat ended.

“He is the king of our sport so just being out there surfing in a heat with him, I said to my manager earlier, ‘I don’t even care if I lose,’” Smith said of his first man-on-man clash with Slater. “You don’t get many opportunities to surf against Kelly, and also I guess it’s another good birthday present for my Mom. It was her birthday yesterday, so just make it through a couple heats is pretty cool.”

Smith went on to defeat Durbidge in their quarterfinal match-up, using a similar approach of smart heat tactics and committed surfing to overcome the in form Gold Coast local who had posted the highest heat total of the event to date, 19.30, in his Round 3 victory.

Smith will be hoping that his semifinal with Reynolds, who treated the spectators to an awesome display of surfing in ousting crowd favourite and defending champion Joel Parkinson (AUS) with 19.20 points in the quarters, will be a case of third time lucky and that he can advance to his first final at the top level of competitive surfing.

In his previous two semifinals he lost to eventual event winner Taj Burrow (AUS) as a wildcard at Jeffreys Bay in 2006 and was defeated by Parkinson, who also went on to win, at Bells Beach last Easter.

The other semi will see ASP World No. 4 Burrow up against Bobby Martinez (USA) after the pair defeated Adriano de Souza (BRA) and Kai Otten (AUS), who had eliminated reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) in Round 4, in their respective quarterfinals.

Running in conjunction with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, the ASP Top 17 completed the opening four heats of Round 3 of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning three-time ASP World Champion, and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, current ASP World No. 5, dominated the mid-day action, with the youngster announcing herself as a legitimate ASP Women’s World Title contender.

South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge (East London) was not in action today and will take on former ASP Women’s Wold Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS) in Heat 6 of Round 3 when the event recommences.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Cape Town will be rocked by the Pro-X Extreme Games this weekend as dozens of the country’s most extreme athletes go ballistic in custom built arenas alongside a red-hot line-up of live acts and DJ’s blasting the airwaves at Zone 7, just North of the city.

Featuring the top local and several international exponents of FMX, BMX, Skateboarding (Halfpipe & Street), Wakeboarding, Supercross and MTB Trials, the mega-event runs the qualification rounds on Saturday with the finals and awards presentation on Sunday.

Amongst many others, the likes of “Sick Nick” De Wit will be throwing his weight around on the FMX track; Anthony Raynard and Wyatt Avis will be tearing up the Supercross; Devon Nassif and Nick Burton-Moore in the Wakepool; and from foreign shores, Kyle Forte and John Skvarla from the USA.

The action in the arenas will be non-stop between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, with a lunchtime break for give-aways from the host of sponsors and the Loaded Model Search, before the entertainment gets underway.

The gates re-open at 10am on Sunday and after the usual lunchtime activities, the best of the best will proceed to blow minds as they take to their respective arenas and vie for the 2010 Pro-X titles, prestige and cash in the finals.

The awards ceremony is set for 7.30pm, with more give-aways and general tomfoolery, before another bout of musical treats as the whole celebration ends with a BANG!

Tickets are available from Vida e Caffes or online at Webtickets and options range from R200 for the full weekend including the Pro-X Live entertainment, R150 for the Sunday or R450 for VIP status that enables you to spend time with the riders. There are student, children, family and group discounts available.

The venue is Zone 7, just North of Blouberg on the road to Malmesbury (N7) near the West Coast Show Ranch (see map below) and the organisers have arranged camping facilities at nearby Zonnekus Holiday Resort for those amped to stay for the entire weekend.

The Pro-X Extreme Games is brought to you by Recked Industries with the entertainment provided by Complete Events.

Further information on the event of the summer can be found at www.pro-x.co.za or the Facebook group Pro-X Summer Series.